Electric lamp.



R. E., WHLIAMS. ELECRC LAMP. APPucATroN FILED mmrzoA 191e.

lgw., Y f Patented Apf. 8; 1919.

j www f@- im RALPH E. WILLAMS, OF vSANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Atpr. 8, 1919.

Application'led May 20, 1918. Serial No. 235.481.Y`

To f//Z /c/m/n it muy concern le it known that I, RALPH F.. \Y1I.L1AMS, a citizen ot thc Ynited States. residing at Hanta Ana, in the county ot Orange, State of zlalitornia. have invented new and useful Vimprovements in Electric Lamps, of which the tollowing is a speciication.

This invention relates to search lights and more particularl)` to what is generally known as a spotlight adapted particularly tor automobiles. although useful tor other purposes; and it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved' torni ot spotlight. The iml'novements herein concerned have to do mainly with improved construction oi the spotlight Jfor the purpose ot' excluding moisture from the interior of thc light structure and for the purposes of facilitating and reducing expense ot' mamifacture and assembly.

ln many spotlights now upon the market, moisture readily finds access to the interior ot light structure, passing into the interior of the reflector around the lamp and there torniing a vapor which decreases the eii'ectireness of the light and tarnishes the re- Hector. lt is an object of this invent-ion to provide a construction whereby moisture is entirely excluded. This object. and other objects, are accom lished by the construction and organization.hereinafter explained in detail. In the following detailed specification 1 explain and describe different forms of lamp which embody the moisture excludin feature; and l further explain a preterred specific construction which has other advantages in cheapness of manufacture and ease ol" assembly, together with simple and easy operation. specification I refer to the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing a preferred form ol? in f lamp; Fig. f2 is an enlarged detail section o parte shown in Fig. 1: Vig. 3 is a cross section on line am?, ot' Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is across section on line fr# '1 ot `llig. 6; Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 ot Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is an enlargement o? a part of Fig. 5:, and Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form ot' construction.

in the drawings the numeral designates i the retlectfn' within which the electric lamp i is mounted. A lens glass 12 is secured by any suitable means over the -front of the rellector. l preferably use an annular clamp- For the purpose of this.

ing ring 13 and interpose a gasket of some suitable material at 11 between the glass and the front edge of the. reflector; the clamping ring clamping the glass tightly so that moisture cannot enter the reflector at this point. At 15 show a sleeve upon which the reflector is mounted, and this sleeve is carried upon a bracket or 'standard 1G. Usually the standard 1G is mounted upon or forms a part of a universal joint which enables the lamp to be thrown to any desired position; but this universal joint does not form any part of the present invention.

Sleeve 15 carries within it the longitudinally slidable tube 1T which 'may be held in any l ljusted position b v a set screw 1H, or by any other suitable holding means. At its forward end this tube, 17 receives the base 19 of lamp 11, the lamp base having pins 2()- -which enter slots 21 in the end of' tube 1T,

the slots being ot' such shape as to'hold Athe plug in the end ot' the tube and hold thc base contacts against. the spring supported contact pi'ns 2L). which are mounted in the plug 23 of insulating material within the tube 17. At the back end of plug .23 there is another pair ot' spring supported contact pins 23 and lin 'il is longer than pm 225 and remains in engagement with contacts 25 ot'v plug 26 whether that switch plug is in the position shown in Fig. 1 or in the position shown in Fig. 2. The switch plug 2t) is mounted in a cap or shell 27 which preferably fits over the end of tube 17 and also, as will be hereinafter explained, tits over the ends of sleeve -15. Plug 2.6 is carried in this cap 27 and may he moved longitudinally, between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by longitudinal movement ot' the cap. 'lhe cap 27 carries two sets ot pins il() and 31 which project inwardly and project into slots 32 eut in the opposite walls ot' the outer end oit' tube 17. r@heee slots 32 are ot a peculiar configuration which causes the pins` 30 and 31 to be engaged and hold the plug 26 in either the position shown in Fig. 1 or the posit-ion shownA in Fig. 2, 'the 'plug being moved 'from'oneposition to the other either by a, simple longitudinal movement or by longitudinal move-ment accompanied by a slight twist. For instance, when the plug is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2. to the position shown Fie. 1, it is merely pushed straight-inwardly and the pin 31 will then pass into the part 32 of slot 32, causing` the pins'lSO and 31 to move down 'ardly Y put the pins the position shown in Eig. 1.

essai-y to connect the shell while they move to the left (in Fig. 6) and causing the pin 30 to strike the edge of the slot at. about. the point designated 32h when the pin 3l has passed to the left of the overhanging hook point 32". Engagement of pin 30 at the point 32' will then cause the upward movement of the pins 30 and 31 (in Fig. 6) causing pin 31 to move in behind the hook 32 and then lie in the position in which pin 30 is shown in Fig. (3. This carries the pins (both sets of pins 3() and 31) to The plug 2o is thus heldin its inner position; and i-n this position both the contacts engage with the contact pins 23 and 21. closing the circuit through the device to the lamp 11. Now when it is'desired to move the plug out. it is only necessary to press it slightlyfin-s wardly and then rotate it in such a direction as to carry the pin 81 (the one shown in Fig. 2') down below the hook 32. and then to allow the plug to he moved outwardly. This outward movement is accomplished by the spring 35 behind the long pin 24.

I have explained the action of this kind of switch tube. its contacts and plug. etca merely for the purpose of explaining clearly and fully just what my invention I do not claim any invention in this particular kind of switch tube. contacts. plugs. etc.. nor in the. particular shape or action of the slots 32.

"In the specific form of construction now described, certain features of my invention reside in the means of holding the plug t irsplace in the shell 2i'. The rear end of the plug bears back against a shoulder 40 at a reduced rear portion of the cap where the connecting wires I1 pass out: and the spring 35 and contact pin 24 serve the. purpose of always holding the plug back against the rear of the shell 2T. Now. heretofore it has been the practice to put the pins 30 and 31 upon the plugs and allow those pins to project outwardly into the slots 32. I prefer to 30 and 31 in the shell rather than in the plug for several reasons and primarily for the reason that this placement of the pin facilitates and simplifies construction and assembly. The function of the pins 30 and 31 is ultimately merely to hold the shell on the tube 15 in two different positions. Vith the shell thus held against movement` of the tube, and with the` plug 26 pressed back into the end of the shell by the action of spring'li, it then only becomes necand plug together in some manne; so as to put them in a fixed position as regprds relative rotation; so as to keep the contacts 2T in a certain fixed position with reference to the pins 25H and 31, so as to insure contact '5 always engaging the co' tact pins 23 and 24. Now this rotational connection between the plug and shell may be very easily effected. For

instance, I place apin 15 in the shell. projecting inwardly. The back end of plug 26 preferably has an enlarged portion or flange 16 which fits the interior of the shell 2T; and in this enlarged portion or flange :L6 I form a notch li'. In fact. two such notches as i? are formed oppositely: and thi` pin fris preferably placed directly. behind one of the pins 31. In assembling. the plug 26 is then merely passed into the shell 2T. the notchesl It' passing. the pins ill) and 31 and then one of the notches it' coming into register with the pin 4:3. The plugr lits the shell more or less loosely. so that it is easily dropped into place, or pulled into place. by use of the wire 4-1; and it .is not necessary that the pin 15 and notch 1T fit tightly.

The form of lamp shown in Fig. G is in many respects similar to the form shown in theother figures: but in the lamp of Fig. t3 I use a different form of switch tube device. In this form the switch plug oa carries it` own pin or pins 30a engaging in the slot or slots 32a in tube 1T. The plug 26a may be mounted in its cap 2T in any suitable manner. as by being screwed into the cap. In thisI form of device it is rotation of the plug that` causes making and breaking of the circuit to lamp 11. This form of switch tube. contacts, plug. etc.. is very well known and needs no particular description.

Now. in each one of these forms of' devices the sleeve 1.3 extends rearwardly close to or over the end of the switch tube 1T: and the cap 2T or :2Ta tits over the end of the sleeve 15.` In the form shown in Fig. 1 the cap pre erabiy lits over the end of tube 1T also: the lcap being preferably (but not necessarily) in the form of a two diameter shell fitting ove'z` the sleeve 15 in its forward part and over the tube 1T in its rearward part. In the form shown in Fig-( the cap does not fit over or upon tube 1T but uponthe sleeve l5 only. Now. heretofore. lamps of this general character have been made in which the cap has fitted over the rear end of tube 1T. but sleeve l5 has been Stopped short ot the end of the tube: or in another construction the cap (forming a handle) hasta-en fitted within the sleeve l5.A which for that purpose extends beyond the rear end of tube' 1T. Now in the practical use of spot lights they usually stand (and are required bv law in many A*rates so to stand) in a slightlyv downwardly inclined position: and the result has; been that moisture (rain. fog. ett-.t which has dropped upon the cap or handle has then passed down and forwardly around the tithe 1T and found access to the interior of the reflector. My present coustructioi obviates this difficulty entirely. `\ny moisture which falls upon either of thc caps will beshed'withoutl any possibility ot` its entering the sleeve 15 and passing around the tube TT' into the-interior of the reflector.

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Furthei'niore. l have :tu improved erre-.ngement nud const ruction ot the retiector mountni-.ilres u totally moisture prooi und simple joint between the retlcctound sleeve i. 'liereto'torm n buse member such :is is illustrated :u 5t) hns been soldered or brnzed to the lnicli side ot' the retlcctor l() :ind then this buse member hns been screw thrended onto sleeve 15. l now mount the retiecto'r upon the sleeve by sprcuding or e.\ pending .the imu-r periphery 5i, (it-the re- !'lector into un. nnnulnr groove .32 on the 1nside of the forward end ot .sleeve i5. The reflector bese 5t). in the torin ot n tiunge. is merely slipped onto the torwurd end ot sleeve 15. bearing buck ngninst :s shoulder 53, the reflector is pui in plnce. und the inner periphery 51 expanded into groove 52. mnt-:-

'nig n water proof joint uti. thut point. rEhe retiector is by this procedure drawn buck tightly against the flange :Btl und n more or less water proot' joint is niude between the, reflector nud the tlnngo 50. Furthermore, in expanding the port 5l. the torwnrd thin part 5t of sleeve, i5 is usually expanded to make. n tight joint' between the pzirt 5l und member 50. The i'etiector is thus mounted in a simple manner upon sleleye i5, rigidly and pernninentlv'; and till this is done with n. simple operation und without the, necessity of soldering or hrw/zing' the 'lnnge 50 tothe, reiector.

Having described n preferred form ot my invention, l clnini:

1. ln combination. :in iniperirute, sleeve, a. retiector mounted on one end ot the sleeve, with :i witter-proof joint between the reticetOr nnd sleeve, switch inenns contnined within the sleeve. und ineens for operating the switch means embodying n carp tilting completely over the end ot the sleeve..

n combination, n sleeve. n reflector mounted on one end ot' thevsleevo with :i water-prooi joint between the reflector und sleeve., a lump-holding.- :ind switch-tube in the sleeve.. switch niezins embodying n plug '-rojecting into the switch tube. the sleeve extending subst'nntinlly to the end ot the .switch tube, :1nd n cup tor the plug. snid cup extending und titting over the end ot' the sleeve. y

3. in combination. n sleeve. n reflector nnnunted on one end ot' the sleeve with :i i .er-prooi" joint between the reflector und 'l sleeve. n lun'ip-holding- :uid switch-tube in the sleeve, switch m x:rns embodying n ping projecting' into the switch tube thev sleeve,- evxtfnding substantially to 'the end ot the switch tube, und n cnp tor the plug. sind clip extending :1nd fitting' over the ends ot 'the switch tubel und ot' thc, sleeve.

4. lin u device of the clnuuicter described, n tube :1 switch device therein enuioovni'e u plug und n spring menus tending' .to press n wny trom the tube. u cip in vrnioh the pllur the plug :is loosely mounted. und the 'c'.ip hnving menus engaging the tube to hold `the plug toward they tube ng'ninst the notion of snid spring meuns.

5. ln n device ot the clnirncter described` u tube. n switch device therein embodying u plug' fitting' into the end ot' the tube und longitudinally movnble therein. und :i spring mcnns tending to press the plug' out oll the tube. u cup in which the plug is loosely mounted. suid cup extending over the plug und extending` over the end of the tube.' menns on the cup :ind tube :adapted to interengnge und prevent movement of the cup, und menus for preventing relative rotntion between the plug' und np.

t3.. in n device ot the character described.

:l tube` :1 switch device therein embodying il.

plug' titting into the end ot the tube und longitiulinnlly movnble therein. und n spring menus tending to press the plug' out.. ot` the tube. n cup in which the plug is loosely mounted. suid cup extending over the plug' und extending over the end ot the, tube, mennson the cup und tube ndnpted to jntereugnge und prevent outward movementy of the cup. und menus tor preventing relativo rotntion between thel plug :ind cup, Suid menus embodying n pin projecting into the cop und u. notch in the plugl udnpted to tit',- nround the pin.

7. lin n device o't the churucter described, :i tube, u switch device therein embodying n plug tilting' into the end ot the tube und longitudinally movnble therein. und :L spring menus tending to press the plug out ot. the tube'. n cup'in which the plug is loosely mounted` snid cnp extending over the plug und extending over the end otl the tube, meuns on the cup und tube ndnpted'to intereng'ng'e end prevent outwnrd movement ot the cup. snid menns embodying n slot in the end ot' the tube und n pin projecting into the cup nndeng'uging in snid slot. :1nd menus tor preventing relutive rotation between the. cnp und the plug. snid menns embodying n pin projecting inwurdly into the cnp und the plug huving' n periphernl notch ndnpted to poss by the first mentioned pin when the plug' is inserted in the cup und :iduplcd to lit over the second mentioned pin when the plug is in position in the cnp.

S. ln' :l device ot` the clinrnctcr described, n sleeve` n switch tube. in snid sleeve.. with its end projecting somewhut beyond the end ol' the sleeve. switch menus in snid tube embodying spring pressed conlncts movnble longiludinnlly oll the tube und embodying :i coi'ipernting contnct plug mornble longitudinully in the end oll the tuber` onel of snid springl pressed contncts tending to press the plug` out ol the tube. n cnp in which the plug is loosely mounted. Suid cup eX- tending' und tilting` over the end of the sleeve'. und inter-engaging menus on tite. cup

and tube to prevent outward movement of the plug and cap.

9. In combination, a sleeve, a reflector mounted on one end of the sleeve Witha uterprooic joint between the reflector and sleeve, a lanip-holdingand switch-tube in the sleeve adapted to hold a lamp in its end in the reflector and having its other end projecting somewhat beyond the end of the sleeve. switch meansl in said tube embodyin spring pressed contacts -n'iovable longitudi- 'atlng Contact plug movable nall)v of the tube and embodying a coperlongitudinally of said spring tending to press the plug 1n the end of the tube, one pressed contacts out of the tube, a cap in which the plug is loosely mounted, said cap extending over the end of the tube and extending and fitting over the end of the sleeve, inter-engaging means on the cap and tube to prevent outward movementl of the plug and cap, the cap making a substantially tight movement fit upon the end of the sleeve.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto day of April, 1918.

RALPH E. IVILLIA MS subscribed my naine this 29th 25 

